May 18, 2015, 19:16 UTC+3BRUSSELSRussia imposed a package of counter sanctions in response to sanctions imposed by the European Union, the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, Switzerland and Norway over the events in Ukraine

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A customs officer seen at the Russian border (archive)

BRUSSELS, May 18. /TASS/. Rescinding food embargo will depend on lifting anti-Russia sanctions by the European Union, the Russian Economic Development Minister Alexey Ulyukayev said Monday after a tri-lateral EU-Russia-Ukraine ministerial meeting on the issues related to Ukraine’s implementation of association agreement with the EU.

"We were not the first to impose restrictions so our decision will depend on our partners’ decision," Ulyukayev said. "We’re not discussing the sanctions issue as we think this is not the issue of our agenda but our partners’ agenda - they imposed sanctions and they have to somehow solve the issue," he added.

Russia imposed a package of counter sanctions in response to sanctions imposed by the European Union, the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, Switzerland and Norway over the events in Ukraine. Russia fully banned from August 7, 2014 imports of meat, fish, cheeses, milk, vegetables and fruits from western countries that had imposed economic sanctions against Russian citizens and companies.

Since 8 August 2014 Russia has conducted negotiations with representatives of China, Turkey, Serbia, Egypt, Mauritius, Ecuador, Chili, Columbia, Mexico, Brazil, Sri Lanka, Paraguay, Guatemala, Morocco, Kenya, Argentina, Lebanon, Faroe Islands, Tunisia, India, Pakistan, Thailand, Iceland and Uruguay on opening or expansion of meat, milk, vegetables, fruits, fish and sea food supplies to Russia. The Russian Government plans to substitute the shortfall in food due to sanctions and avoid deficit and price growth via a boost in commodity exchange with the countries that did not come under restrictions.